"The Geyser project highlights how far green building has come in New Zealand since Green Star launched in 2007. And Geyser’s 6 Star rating for Office Design sets an exciting new benchmark for the way buildings are designed and built," she says.

"This achievement reflects the growth of the Council and its members and the ability of the industry to deliver world leading green buildings for the benefit of tenants, investors and indeed all New Zealanders."

Ms Henley said that while much of the focus tends to be on easily measured benefits such as energy and water savings, just as important is the quality of the working and living environment of green buildings, boosting productivity, reducing absenteeism and acting a major draw card for tenants.

Samson Corporation General Manager, Marco Creemers, says Green Star ratings are a natural progression for their business and meeting the challenge took significant effort from all parties involved.

"We think green building practices are the future. Achieving the first 6 Green Star certification for Geyser is a result of doing things differently with a more thought to choices during the design process."

Scott Hodges, Project Engineer, Medland Metropolis says the building is designed to:

use 27% of the energy of a typical retail/office building of its size;

require only half the artificial lighting of a typical retail/office building (6 watts per square metre)

use only half the water of a typical retail/office building of its size;

provide 100% fresh air to occupants (as compared with the average of 25% for air-conditioned buildings in New Zealand), and

have 70% of its building waste recycled

Andrew Patterson of Patterson Associates Ltd says the achievement was a collaborative effort.

"Dozens of people from a huge range of disciplines were involved, from structural engineers, electrical engineers, hydraulic service designers, mechanical and façade engineers all working in collaboration. We wanted to make Geyser holistic, not just about accommodation and technical performance but also about expressing an Auckland sense of place for people," says Patterson.

The building will have 5040 square metres of primarily office space, set above a 180 vehicle automated car park stacking system and is due for completion in 2011.